****
Noelle pulled out of her trance just after lunch time. She ignored the phone as it rang. She had stuff that was far more important for her to do. Staring at herself in the portrait she left it to dry.
Opening the studio door she went to the phone and saw three messages waiting for her. She clicked the button for her to hear them.
“Hiya, honey. I know I keep calling, but your mum and I were wondering if you’d be able to make it down to us? It has been a couple years since we last saw you, and we don’t want to keep sending you cards. Call me. Dad.”
She deleted the message. Brad would force her to phone them if he knew they’d gotten in touch.
“Sorry, it’s me again. Please call. I know you don’t want to, but I want to hear your voice. I love you baby, and I’m so sorry about what happened.”
“You’re so sorry, but it doesn’t stop you having a fucking drink, you bastard.” She deleted the next few messages when she heard the voice of her dad. Feeling angry and hurt at the way he was trying to blame her, she went to the kitchen and pulled two brownies out of the batch she’d made the night before.
Her hips would be protesting at the added calories, but she didn’t care. Chocolate brownies were one of her few pleasures in the world. She moaned as the gooey chocolate coated her taste buds. The flavour was addictive. She took another brownie from the tub before grabbing herself a glass of milk.
She noted Brad’s laptop set up on the table. Frowning, she moved closer to see if he was waiting for anything. It was unlike him to leave it lying around. She sat down and began hunting around like she did last time. A page kept popping up which dominated the rest. The page was for the exclusive company of a male escort. There was no picture just some information about his service, payment details and a phone number. Staring at the screen for the longest time, she debated her options.
Option one, she could go to a bar and try and pick a drunken man up and hope he would treat her right. Option two, she could phone this guy, pay the money and try to experience something besides overall disgust. Moving away, she grabbed the phone.
Twice she phoned the number and put it down before it could ring. On the third time a man picked up, and terrified, she put the phone down. On the fourth ring, she let him pick up.
“Hello,” he said.
She didn’t have a clue as to what to say.
“Hello,” he said again.
From his voice alone she knew he was sexy.
“If this is a prank call....”
“No. It’s not. I’m so sorry. I’ve never done this before.” Noelle gasped and placed a hand in front of her mouth. She wished she could take the words back.
“Many people haven’t phoned this number. May I ask who is calling?” His voice dripped with charm.
Closing her eyes, her heart raced as her body became instantly alert to the man on the phone. Brad never made her feel this way.
“I don’t know why I was calling. It’s a stupid reason. I’m really sorry to bother you.”
“Tell me your name,” he said.
His voice demanded an answer.
“Noelle,” she found herself saying before she could hand up.
“Noelle. Pretty name. I take it you want to book an appointment to see me?”
Staring at the internet, she wondered what the hell she was doing.
Chapter Five
Isaac stood staring down at the street below as he talked into his personal mobile phone. The several calls had annoyed him. The woman on the other end sounded pleasant, and he sensed she was scared to ask for something. He had no idea how an escort sounded or the kinds of questions asked. The only type of escort he’d been acquainted with was the type he saw on the some of the streets he passed or the television. He would burst out laughing at his predicament if it wasn’t so important to him to meet the woman who’d helped his brother.
“I don’t know about booking an appointment. I’m not really sure what I want.” Her voice sounded kind. Young. From the information Brad had given to him, he knew she was twenty years his junior. She was much too young for him. Being a cynical forty-year-old, he’d seen most of the crap in the world and hated it.
“I think we should meet. We can arrange a time and place to meet. If you’re not happy with me then no hard feelings.” He glanced down at his watch anticipating when she would want to see him.
“When would be suitable to you?” she asked.
“How about tonight?” He was never a patient man. The sooner he saw her and got his obsession out of the way would suit him.
“Are you sure you want to meet that soon?”
“Yes. I look forward to meeting you, Noelle.”